The historical adventure of İslam in America and religious conversion movement

There are different claims about the beginning of the history of Islam in the American continent. The theses based on these claims have led to some differences of opinion among the scientists working on the history of America. In this study, the adventure of Islam in the pre-Columbian and post-Columbian continent (the history of Islam in the America) has been tried to be discussed by including the opinions of two different scholars. Information about the Islamic history of the post-Columbian era is provided by referring the written sources of African slaves brought to the American continent through the slave trade. It is uncertain when the first Muslims came to the American continent. However, the arguments of scholars, who claim that the history of Islam in the America has begun with the arrival of Muslim slaves of African descent to the continent, is reviewed in this study. On the other hand, other scholars' claims that the Muslims reached the America in pre-Columbus era are discussed within this thesis too. Nevertheless, the beginning and the history of the Islamic conversion movements in America has been discussed through the examples of life stories of the American converts within the scope of this thesis. It is seen that, like other religions in the American continent, Islam and Muslims have got a foothold in the history of the continent before the establishment of the United States of America and have made major contributions for defensing and making history of the continent. In order for Islamophilic Theosophical Thought about Islam, which was actively used in the American Islamic history and was meant that 'Islam is the Religion of Love and Brotherhood', to be reactivated again in today's world, it should be evaluated objectively in the light of historical knowledge. Key Words: History of Islam in America, Islamophilic, Conversion, Converts, Columbus. USA,Slave, Islamophilic